Westlake tops Walton in double-overtime
Boys
Hoops in Overdrive/Kenn Littlefield Memorial Classic
(At Centennial)
Lambert 54, Mount Vernon Presbyterian 50: Lambert took a 29-18 deficit into halftime and outscored Mount Vernon 36-21 in the second half. Lambert senior Logan Bush recorded a double-double with 14 rebounds and a game-high 27 points.
Marietta 41, Stephenson 39: Raynere Thornton had 20 points and 15 rebounds for Marietta as the Blue Devils rallied from a 10-point fourth quarter deficit. It was the first time in four games Marietta had not played into triple overtime.
Paulding County 59, North Cobb 36: The Patriots led North Cobb 7-2 after the opening quarter and took a 30-13 lead into halftime. Senior Dana Middleton finished with a team-high 12 points for Paulding County and teammate Michael Hemphill reached double figures with 11 points. Paulding County big man Rasean Davis finished with nine points. The Patriots previously topped North Cobb 42-41 on Dec. 28 at the Allatoona Invitational.
South Atlanta 77, Tri-Cities 76: South Atlanta freshman Tyler Thorton hit a game-winning shot with three seconds left to lift the Hornets and finished with nine points. South Atlanta led 34-31 at the half, despite an 18-point effort from Tri-Cities senior Emmanuel Rainey in the first half. Rainey finished with a game-high 30 points and teammate Shawntrez Davis scored 16 points. South Atlanta senior Costa Anderson finished with a team-high 19 points and Martaveous Favors added 12 points. South Atlanta's Derrick Byrd dished out seven assists to go with his eight points.
Westlake 83, Walton 76 (2OT): Walton jumped to a 22-14 lead after the first quarter and took a 37-33 lead into halftime. Westlake gained a 52-51 lead heading into the fourth quarter after Raymond Saunders netted a three-pointer on the buzzer. The Lions extended the lead to nine points with 1:28 left, but a three-pointer from Walton's Juanye Colon and an Elijah Weems free throw sent the teams into overtime tied 70-70. Neither team scored in the first overtime and in the second overtime a Raquan Wickens steal and transition bucket gave Westlake a 74-71 lead. Walton's Weems answered with a three-pointer to tie it back up, but and Tyler Williams and Saunders would ice the game from the foul line for the Lions. Westlake moves to 19-1 overall.
Blue Collar Basketball/Berkmar MLK Showcase
(At Berkmar)
Greater Atlanta Christian 69, Hillgrove 65 (OT): Hillgrove took a 26-23 lead into halftime and trailed for much of the second half until an Isaiah Wilkins dunk gave GAC a 54- 52 lead with 2:20 remaining. Hillgrove answered with a B.J. Brown three-point play and reclaimed the lead at 55-54. On the ensuing Spartans possession, Garrett Covington drilled a three-pointer to put the Spartans ahead 57-55.
Hillgrove's Aaron Bailey was fouled on the inbounds pass and forced overtime (57-57) with
 |
| Photo by Ty Freeman |
a pair of made free throws. In overtime, Wilkins scored on a three-point play and Cam Boyd made a three-pointer to give GAC a quick 63-57 lead. Hillgrove traded baskets and tied it at 65-65 with 21 seconds remaining. Brown fouled GAC's Eric Jamison and and sent the sophomore to the foul line where he would net both attempts. On Hillgrove's final possession, Wilkins came up with the steal with 6.5 ticks on the clock and was fouled before icing the game with two free throws.
Allatoona 65, Fayette County 57: Allatoona trailed 31-28 at the half and outscored Fayette County 19-9 in the third quarter to gain a seven point lead (47-40) heading into the final quarter. Rodney Brown led the Buccaneers with a game-high 24 points and added 10 rebounds. Buccaneers teammate Daniel Fowler also tabbed a double-double with 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Chaz Berry finished with 23 points for Fayette County. Allatoona remains unbeaten at 19-0.
Buford 71, Johnson-Gainesville 68: Johnson brought a 40-26 halftime deficit to a one-possession ballgame before Buford escaped with the win. James Hodges led the Knights with a game-high 23 points and hauled in nine rebounds. D'Marcus Simonds scored 22 points and an Rakim Lubin netted 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for Buford.
Morgan County 76, Clarke Central 67 (OT): Previously-unbeaten Clarke Central took a 43-33 lead into the second half, but Morgan County forced overtime at 63-63 and outscored the Gladiators 13-4 in the extra frame. Cameron Johnson paced Clarke Central with 18 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 27 points. Morgan County's Tookie Brown was named the Most Oustanding Player after clutch buckets in the late action and a team-high 24 points.
Flyin' to the Hoop
(Dayton, Ohio)
Roselle Catholic (N.J.) 70, Miller Grove 61: Miller Grove lost its 51-49 third quarter lead and was outscored 21-10 in the fourth quarter by the Lions. Junior Isaiah Briscoe finished with 24 points, seven assists and six rebounds for Roselle Catholic.
